Mental Disorders Rampant Among Teens
Some sobering statistics from ChildTrends:
Almost 1 in 4 boys and more than 1 in 3 girls in grades 9-12 report symptoms of depression (which is defined as feeling sad or hopeless almost EVERY DAY for TWO WEEKS or longer)
About 1 in 12 adolescents reported experiencing a major depressive episode during the past year
10% of adolescents reported symptoms of an anxiety disorder including OCD, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, and phobias
5% of adolescents report symptoms of an eating disorder
Substance abuse disorders frequently go hand in hand with mental disorders. In additi...
Child Maltreatment 2011 – The Report
On February 7, 2013, at 1 p.m. E.T., the Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will host the 1-hour Webinar, Child Maltreatment 2011—Key Findings and Expanded Discussion to expound on the findings reported in Child Maltreatment 2011. The report presents national data about child abuse and neglect known to child protective services agencies during fiscal year 2011.
During FFY 2011, an estimated 3.4 million referrals, were received by CPS agencies. The national
estimate of 3.4 million ...
The trail of an international child-porn ring led to a tiny house in the woods outside St. Louis
This excellent article by journalist John H. Tucker appeared in a St. Louis paper, the Riverfront Times, last year. It's well-worth reading and illustrates how Internet technology facilitates the spread of criminal child pornography networks to even the smallest towns and villages.
The newspaper's cover story provided an account of the FBI's recent dismantling of "Lost Boy," an international, members-only online bulletin board operated by about three dozen child pornographers. The federal crackdown represented, at the time (in 2009), the largest disruption of a child ...
Tales from the Darkside – Masha Allen
This is a story which sadly never goes away or gets better. The ever-excellent Pound Pup Legacy recently published this sobering exposé related by a friend of Masha Allen:
I met Masha when I was in the 5th grade. She was awkward, like me. We became very close along with another girl. At first she did not open up about her past. We would talk about normal girl things.
My best memory of Masha is when we used to steal pickles from lunch (the lunch ladies only allowed us 4). It sounds odd but it really helped us connect. We even wrote a silly story about it. From there, She ...
SEEKING JUSTICE FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY VICTIMS:
Marsh Law Firm Teams up with Freeman Lewis LLP in Novel Federal Lawsuit Under Masha’s Law
Marsh Law Firm PLLC partnered with Freeman Lewis LLC to file a lawsuit today on behalf of a victim of child pornography seeking damages from a defendant who was convicted of transporting child pornography in violation of federal criminal law. The civil lawsuit, “Amy” v. Joshua Osmun Kennedy, was filed in the federal district court for the Western District of Washington.
The civil complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as costs and attorneys’ fees under 18 U.S.C. § 2255 (Masha’s Law) and 18 U.S.C. § 2252A.
To protect the ...
Adoption Practices and Islamic Principles
A new effort by the Muslim Women's Shura Council aims to address the complex issue of adoption and Islamic law. The Shura Council is a global initiative composed of Muslim women scholars, activists, and specialists dedicated to connecting Islamic principles to strategies for social change. A new white paper and brochure by the Council explores the concerns of Muslims interested in adoption and identifies what it means to serve "the best interest of the child" according to Islamic principles.
Adoption in Islam is complex given the religion's guidelines pertai...
Amicus Support Victim Restitution – Brief Filed in Supreme Court
Today, the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) moved for leave to file, as amicus curiae, this brief in support of the Marsh Law Firm's recent Petition for a Writ of Certiorari concerning whether the Mandatory Restitution for Sexual Exploitation of Children Statute, 18 U.S.C. § 2259, excuses a defendant from paying restitution for the itemized loss categories unless there is proof that the victim’s losses were the proximate result of an individual defendant’s child pornography crime.
NCVLI is a nonprofit educational and advocacy organization located ...